Task4

Key Concept - Issue Choice

What issue captures your interest? You can write a persuasive essay about any subject—arts, literature, history, math, science, or social studies. You know how different persuasive strategies can help you make a convincing argument. What makes a persuasive essay interesting?

Persuasion is usually most interesting when an issue is a source of controversy. An issue becomes controversial because it is very important to people. Critical thinking can help you take a position on a controversial issue. The most remembered persuasions are usually critical essays or speeches about the most controversial issues. Some examples include:

• The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson
• The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln
• The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin
• The Principles of Mathematics by Bertrand Russell
• I Have a Dream by Dr. Martin Luther King

What information do you need to take a position on your issue? Writing a few effective questions keeps you focused while you research the topic. What types of questions you ask depends on what kinds of answers you need. A controversial issue usually requires more than one type of information to understand. That means, you will need to ask more than one type of question.

**Vocabulary** - Click here to view the words to remember**

Exploration - Learning from the Web

An effective persuasive essay is interesting and convincing. Choosing a controversial issue and asking the right questions about the issue helps you to make sure that your persuasive essay will be effective. Explore some Web sites about choosing an issue for a persuasive essay and writing effective research questions. Learn how to identify a controversial issue and what types of questions can help you learn about the issue.

While you explore the following Web sites, think about the guiding questions. You may want to take notes to help you answer the questions. If you think of any other questions about choosing a topic for an expository essay, keep those in mind too.

Guiding Questions

• How can you choose the most interesting issue for your persuasive essay?
• What kinds of information do you need to take a position on an issue?
• What types of questions can help you gather that information?

Web Sites

Choosing an Issue

• Choose an Issue* from Scholastic*
• Persuasive Speaking Topics* from Suite101*
• Choosing the Topic* from Essay Info*

Writing Effective Questions

• What's the Question?* from Fact Monster*
• Task Definition* from The Big6*
• How to Impress Your Teachers by Asking Good Questions!* from The Big6*
• Creating Research Questions* from Wheeling High School*

Information

What to Know

This page summarizes some of the information from the Web sites you explored. This information helps you learn what you need to know for this activity about choosing a topic. You may want to take notes to help you remember the most important points. You can return to the Web sites for more exploration if you want to learn more.

Choosing an Issue for a Persuasive Essay

You can write a persuasive essay about almost any subject. However, that does not mean that you should write a persuasive essay about any subject. You want to make sure your issue will make an interesting and convincing essay. Of course, you also want to make sure your essay is appropriate for the assignment for which you are writing.

First, generate some ideas and then narrow your focus to a specific issue. Then, make sure you can write a convincing essay on your issue using one or more persuasive strategies. Finally, make sure you have enough sources and time to explain the topic thoroughly.

Tips for Choosing an Issue

The most important quality of a topic for any essay is that you are interested in the issue. For an interesting and convincing persuasive essay, your topic should be an issue that is a source of controversy. An issue becomes controversial because it is very important to people.

Some strategies for choosing an issue for a persuasive essay:

1. Make a list of issues. Brainstorming is a great way to think of an issue. You can make a list of issues that interest you. Do not worry if they are controversial issues. Just write down or type anything that comes to mind. You may want to discuss some of your ideas with peers to see what they find most interesting.
2. Evaluate the issues. After you brainstorm a list of issues, look at your list and consider whether the issues are controversial. For a persuasive essay, you probably want to write about an issue on which you have strong opinions. If your opinions are too strong, however, you may have some difficulty being objective when you consider other viewpoints. Some issues have been controversial forever, and they probably will be controversial forever. Your audience has already been bombarded with arguments about these issues. Unless you are sure you have something original to add, your audience is probably not interested in another argument from you.
3. Narrow the focus. After you choose an issue, you should focus on a specific aspect of the issue. Make sure your issue is neither too broad nor too narrow. Remember that you must consider different points of view, take a position, and support your position with a convincing argument. Be careful not to frame your issue in such a way that your audience may be offended. Finally, consider what persuasive strategies would be most likely to convince your audience.
4. Check for sources. Finally, make sure you can find enough information about the issue. For a persuasive essay, you need enough information to make a convincing argument for your position on the issue. Make sure that you will be able to locate sources and write the essay before the due date. Check with your teacher if you are not sure that your issue is appropriate for a persuasive essay.

Task

What to Do

Complete the following task to show what you have learned about choosing a topic for an expository essay. While you work through the task, think about whether you are achieving the goal. You may want to review an example of an issue choice before you begin.

Task: Choose an issue for your persuasive essay and write questions to guide research.

Goal: Show that you can identify a controversial issue and use different types of questions effectively.

See the example: Issue Choice

1. Choose an issue that interests you for your persuasive essay. You can use the Web sites above to help you choose. You need to be sure that this is a controversial issue. If you are unsure please check with your teacher.

2. Start a new word processing document. Always remember to type your name and the date at the top of the document.

3. Think of a title that describes your topic. Type a title for the document.

4. Write some questions to guide research for your persuasive essay. Make sure you address each of the following considerations:

• Why did you choose the issue?
• What are some different points of view about the issue?
• What information do you need to take a position on the issue?
• What kinds of research questions will provide the information?
• What audience do you want to persuade?
• What persuasive strategies are most likely to convince your audience?

5. Remember to save your document frequently while you work.

6. Check with your teacher to make sure you have written effective questions to guide research on your issue. You may want to ask your teacher if you have too few or too many questions.

7. Check the spelling and grammar in your paragraphs.

8. Double-check your work by reading the document carefully one more time.

9. Review the checklist and revise your issue and questions to make sure they are complete.

10. Save your document.

11. Share your issue and questions.